Olivia Patterson

iHARP Research Assistant | UMBC B.S.

Email: opatter1@umbc.edu
See me at Personal Website

Research Interests

  • Game-based climate communication
  • Data-driven storytelling
  • Scientific visualization
Short Biography

Olivia Patterson completed her B.S. in Computer Science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) in May 2025 with a focus on game development and data science. Her research interests include merging her passions for game development, data science, and scientific visualization. Olivia’s integrated approach combines interactive storytelling, real-world data, and technical methods to make complex climate topics more accessible and emotionally engaging. Olivia will continue her studies towards an M.S. in Computer Science in Fall 2025.

Research Summary

Olivia’s research explores how interactive media and real-world data can improve public understanding of climate science. Her interdisciplinary approach combines game design, climate data, and visualization. Through the development of Glacial Guardians, a video game that simulates the lifecycle of Antarctic iceberg A68, she transforms scientific observations into an engaging, game-based experience. Her work demonstrates how gamification can support climate literacy, spark curiosity about polar science, and bridge the gap between scientific research and public outreach.

Publications
  • Olivia Patterson and Rebecca Williams. 2025. Glacial Guardians: Development of a Data-Driven Educational Video Game Exploring Antarctic Iceberg Lifecycles. In Proceedings of the IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS 2025). IEEE. (Conference Presentation & Pending Publication).
Poster Presentations
  • Patterson, O., & Williams, R. (2024). Glacial Guardians: Development of a Data-Driven Educational Video Game Exploring Antarctic Iceberg Lifecycles. Presented at the Summer Undergraduate Research Fest (SURF), University of Maryland, Baltimore County, August 7, 2024.
  • Patterson, O., & Williams, R. (2024). Glacial Guardians: Development of a Data-Driven Educational Video Game Exploring Antarctic Iceberg Lifecycles. Presented at the NASA Student Research Poster Session, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, October 17, 2024.
  • Patterson, O., & Williams, R. (2024). Glacial Guardians: Development of a Data-Driven Educational Video Game Exploring Antarctic Iceberg Lifecycles. Presented at GRIT-X Research Showcase, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, October 24, 2024.
  • Patterson, O., & Williams, R. (2025). Glacial Guardians: Development of a Data-Driven Educational Video Game Exploring Antarctic Iceberg Lifecycles. Presented at the College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) Research Day, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, April 11, 2025.
  • Patterson, O., & Williams, R. (2025). Glacial Guardians: Development of a Data-Driven Educational Video Game Exploring Antarctic Iceberg Lifecycles. Accepted for presentation at the IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS 2025), Brisbane, Australia, August 7, 2025.

Last updated 29 July 2025